Greetings and welcome to the one and only People's Wrestling Website for those infamous wrestling news and rumors. To conclude this intro, I hope everyone who celebrates it had a great Easter. Anyways, this report will probably be short since there isn't a lot of news, but I'll make best with what I got. Let's get started.
The WWF introduced its new version of RAW which is now "controlled" by Ric Flair. To help introduce the new feeling, RAW was given new music, graphics, and a new set. Everything worked out I thought, even though I was disappointed in the set a little bit. It seemed they took the previous set, but slanted the Titantron, made a few cool looking additions and that's your new set. My biggest critism was the music. I love the song, great theme, but notice when the show was about to go to a commercial break, JR was talking while the new song was being played. Unlike the last RAW theme, this one has lyrics so while Ross is talking it's hard to pay attention to what he says cause you are listening to the lyrics. That was only minor, and I still am happy they did finally get RAW a new set, graphics, and theme music.
As for the show itself, I enjoyed it, and as I watched it, I felt the newness feeling, just like I had when watching the first Nitro when Vince Russo and Eric Bischoff were in control back on April 9th, 2000 (hard to believe that was two years ago). I thought the Undertaker and Triple H confrontation was entertaining, and believe it or not, I actually think they will have a great match at Backlash. When hearing the rumors that they would wrestle at the PPV, I was thinking, oh brother why Vince McMahon, why? I think it was time they made the two titles into one finally. The rest of the show had solid wrestling, I am very excited about the push Bradshaw is getting, my only critism is Vince McMahon. He had a purpose to be on the show, but I he was on too long last night. The idea of a roster split is to separate the two shows, and even though McMahon had to be on the show last night for Austin, I think he should have planned ahead when writing the story and not be on TV so much. Maybe if he didn't show up until towards the end of the show per Austin's request to let him in? Just a thought. Other then that, the show was pretty good and with the addition of Austin to the roster, I think RAW will be ok.
It appears that at least temporarily if not 100%, the WWF and Stone Cold Steve Austin have agreed on his character which is why he agreed to come back on last night's program. My only speculation is Austin agreed to return and wrestle for the RAW brand if he would not have to be involved with the nWo. Austin was unhappy with the direction of his character and it is believed that feuding with the nWo was the main conflict. Even though we heard Hall last night mention he would love to beat Stone Cold's ass again, it looks like for now at least Kane and Brashaw will be feuding with the nWo and not Austin.
Before RAW started last night, instead of the usual Jakked/Metal tapings that take place before RAW starts, the Sunday Night Heat tapings took place instead. That only means that the Sunday Night Heat show will feature the wrestlers from RAW while I assume that the Jakked/Metal tapings will take place before the Smackdown show begins. Broadcasting for Sunday Night Heat will be Jonathan Coachman and Raven.
It hopefully is obvious to everyone, but if not, Jerry Lawler will no longer be the color commentator on Smackdown. Smackdown will be announced by Michael Cole still, but the other partner has not been announced yet. The WWF held auditions with several WWF wrestlers including Raven and Steven Richards just to name a few. It wouldn't surprise me if the WWF used Cole and Tazz since they are already established from the time Lawler was gone from the WWF. I seriously wish Heyman could be the man but since he is involved with Brock Lesnar on RAW, I don't see that happening.
It was being reported that Dawn Marie would possibly debut at the Smackdown tapings tonight. However, 1Wrestling.com is reporting that will not happen as she isn't even at the building tonight where Smackdown is being taped. The latest is she may debut at a WWF houseshow this weekend.
It is rumored Chris Benoit may return to the WWF at Backlash. I doubt he would wrestle, but more as just make an appearance or some sort of run in. If not Backlash, then he should be back in early May. He is in great shape from what I hear and is almost ready to return. All he is doing now is wrestling at one of the WWF minor league promotions to work off the ring rust. With McMahon choosing Benoit at number three, I definately expect Benoit to be given a great push on the Smackdown brand.
Speaking of Brock Lesnar, Triple A mentioned this to me last night and I agreed with him 100%. Lesnar has interfeared in matches destroying everybody who has been in his way (well at least the faces). But don't you think to keep Lesnar over, that he must win his matches at least for the first few weeks or months similiar to Kurt Angle or more likely Goldberg? If he wrestles and a week or two later he loses, he loses his heat and he will be just like any other WWF superstar and the next thing you know the WWF will bury him. I hope that doesn't happen, and I can't wait until Paul Heyman finally gets on the mic and starts talking.
I don't have any detailed ratings yet for RAW. They should be posted on the TPWW Newsboard later on.
And finally... How did the old APA office and the mess from the brawl on Smackdown make it to RAW last night? I couldn't help notice the WWF waited to give the new undisputed WWF title belt to Triple H and not Chris Jericho when he was the one that unified the titles. I'm interested in knowing how those who put together the new RAW opening were able to look into time and know Austin would choose to wrestle for RAW, since they decided to include him in the opening. Why does Jim Ross call The Undertaker a Red Booger?
One of the biggest complaints I've gotten from the TPWW readers is that by the time my reports are posted, they are somewhat outdated. That problem has been solved since I will be posting my reports myself, so they should be posted more often and sooner. The same should go for the opinion columns as well. Also, Saturday's report wasn't actually posted until last night sometime. It was written on Saturday but due to difficulties, it wasn't posted until last night. I think it still has valuable information though so if you haven't read it yet, it is available in our news archives section. With that said, that will end it for this report. I'll be back later this week, so until then, I am out.
Martin Hawrysko
Martin@tpww.net
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